What is the Urgent Action Network?
The concept is simple: Take Action, Change a Life.
Urgent Actions ask our community of volunteers to flood the mailboxes, inboxes, phones and social media of authorities when someone is in imminent danger of human rights violations. Your letters, emails, phone calls, faxes and Tweets have helped to halt executions, support human rights defenders and free prisoners of conscience—people jailed solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs and identity.
Please note that the US postal service has suspended service to some countries in light of COVID-19 – reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.
How Does It Work?
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STEP 1: Sign Up Today!
Sign up to receive Urgent Action emails. You can choose to receive all emails or a more limited number. You can also choose to receive emails on specific issues or regions.
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STEP 2: Take Action Now!
Urgent Action emails specify the case, local and international government officials to contact, their contact information and suggestions about what to write, say or Tweet.
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Our Educator’s Guide
Are you an educator looking for ways to engage your students in human rights? Find out how your students can show their power through letter writing!
In many cases, your action on these cases leads to better conditions for prisoners and their eventual release. Those individuals at the center of these Urgent Actions often send their thanks to Amnesty International, citing that these messages serve as a source of hope.
The reason we could resist the ban and move forward was the international support and solidarity by Amnesty International activists around the world. We could not have gone further without your support.
I am very grateful for all the support I received while I was in prison. Life in prison was very difficult and I was treated badly, but the support of those who believed in me made me strong.
My case once again showed how important solidarity and attention are in protecting the freedom of speech and human rights. I admire your noble work and boundless courage, dear activists.
Browse Urgent Actions
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Threats to Journalist Reporting Disappearances (Mexico: UA 12.18)
On 19 January a television reporter published videos from surveillance cameras that suggest that police from Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, were involved in six of seven cases of disappearances that occurred…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Arbitrary Arrests Following State of Emergency (Maldives: UA 24.18)
Five people have been arrested since the Government of Maldives declared a State of Emergency on 5 February 2018, following a recent Supreme Court decision to release and re-try imprisoned…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Serious Health Concerns for Detained Politician (Cambodia: UA 278.17)
Kem Sokha, president of the dissolved main opposition party, was denied bail on appeal on 1 February, despite his seriously deteriorating health. Held in isolated pre-trial detention since his arrest…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Student Held in Solitary Confinement Released (Sudan: UA 203.17)
Naser Aldeen Mukhtar Mohamed, the former chairperson of the Darfur Students Association at the Holy Quran University, was released without charge on 28 January. He was arrested on 22 August…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Trial Of Nubian Activists Adjourned (Egypt: UA 249.17)
On 30 January, the State Security Emergency Court adjourned the trial of 32 Nubian activists to 27 February, where a sentence is expected. If convicted, they could face up to…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Texas Execution Goes Ahead (USA: UA 14.18)
Share: On This Page We have received updated information regarding this case and require no further action from the Urgent Action Network. Thank you to all those who sent appeals.…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Bombing Near Indigenous Territory in Chocó (Colombia: UA 22.18)
While carrying out operations against the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Colombian Security Forces bombed near the Wounaan Indigenous reservation of Chagpien Tordó, in the municipality of Litoral de San…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: At Least 14 People Killed During A Party (Brazil: UA 20.18)
At least 14 people were shot dead and other nine were injured while enjoying a party in Cajazeiras, in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará state, on 27 January. Most of…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action: Opposition Member Risks Further Ill-Treatment (Gabon: UA 18.18)
Gabonese political opposition member, Bertrand Zibi Abeghe, has alleged that he was subjected to ill-treatment while in detention after a mobile phone was found in his cell at Libreville central…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Update: Court of Cassation Upholds Death Sentence (Bahrain: 252.14)
On 29 January, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation upheld the death sentence imposed against Maher Abbas Ahmad following a trial which relied on “confessions” extracted under torture. If the King ratifies…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! Two Memorial Activists Released on Bail (China: UA 7.18)
Independent writers Li Xuewen and Zhan Huidong (aka “Xiaozhang” or “Headmaster”), detained due to their participation in the July 2017 seaside memorial for late Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo,…
Urgent Action
Urgent Action Victory! — Opposition Member Released From Sudan Prison (Sudan: UA 2.18)
Radwan Daoud, a dual national of the US and Sudan, was released without charge from Kober Prison on 18 January. He was arrested on 6 December 2017 and first detained…